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ETF Shoppers: Accounting Trickery At Its Worst In Financial Sector

There are 25 financial sector ETFs. Per Figure 1, these 25 ETFs have drastically different stock holdings and, therefore, allocations. The lowest number of holdings is 24 while the highest is 496. For starters, investors interested in the financial sector cannot expect many good investment options given that the sector gets my “dangerous” rating and ranks ninth out of the ten sectors that make up the economy. Details are in our sector roadmap report.
by David Trainer, Founder & CEO
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Sell Citigroup Before The Earnings Bubble Pops

Citigroup is running out of accounting tricks and the stock will continue its slide as investors recognize the company is not as profitable as it wants investors to believe. Our analysis of the financial footnotes of more than 50,000 annual reports means we know more about which companies have the naughtiest and the nicest accounting. And Citigroup is definitely on the naughty list.
by David Trainer, Founder & CEO
New Constructs
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Mayo Is Right About Citigroup

A large write-down of its deferred tax assets could be devastating for Citi--over 30% of its total book value is comprised of net deferred tax assets. Our detailed analysis of the Notes to the Financial Statements also found these RED FLAGS : 1. Over $7bn in off-balance sheet debt 2. $2.2bn in under-funded Pension liabilities 3. Over $10bn in Asset write-offs
by David Trainer, Founder & CEO